Transfer mechanism for assembling apparatus and methods



June 22, 1965 s. J. GARTNER TRANSFER MECHANISM FOR ASSEMBLING APPARATUSAND METHODS Original Filed Jan. 29, 1954 7 Sheets-Sheet 1 I R Y E m MM TR R mu m Y E .lm 8 Jun e 22; 1965 5. J; GARTNER 3, 9 62 TRANSFERMECHANISM FOR ASSEMBLING APPARATUS AND METHODS Original Filed Jan. 29,1954 7 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. STAN LEY J. GARTNE R BY M ATTORNEYS June22, 1965 s. J. GARTNER 3,190,462

TRANSFER MECHANISM FOR ASSEMBLING APPARATUS AND METHODS v 2 OriginalFiled Jan. 29, 1954 7 sheets sheet as 361/ 15);, 40 aw INVENTOR. STANLEYJ. GARTNER ATTORNEYS June 22, 1965 s. J. GARTNER 3,190,462

TRANSFER MECHANISM FOR ASSEMBLING APPARATUS AND METHODS Original FiledJan. 29, 1954 7 he 4 STANLEY J. GARTNER ATTORNEYS June 22, 1965 5. J.GARTNER 3,190, 62

TRANSFER MECHANISM FOR ASSEMBLING APPARATUS AND METHODS Original FiledJan. 29, 1954 7 sheets-sheet 5 m 4 ll/l 4/J 4/ Jig-7 i I 'l X lINVENTOR. STANLEY J. GARTN ER BY M/KW ATTORNEYS June 1965 s. J. GARTNER3,190, 62

TRANSFER MECHANISM FOR ASSEMBLING APPARATUS AND METHODS Original FiledJan. 29. 1954 7 sheets-Sheet 6 INVENTOR. STANLEY J. GARTNER ATTORNEYS.of wires.

the wires.

United States Patent 3,196,462 TRANFER hmCHANlEih i FQR ASSEMBMNGAPPARATUS AND METHGDS Stanley J. Gartner, Emporium, Pa, assigner, bymesne assignments, to Sylvania Electric Products Inc, Wilmiugton, Del.,a corporation of Delaware Application Feb. 7, i962, Ser. No. 171,745,which is a division of application Ser. No. 496,939, Jan. 29, 1954, nowPatent No. 3,069,749, dated Dec. 25, 1962. Divided and this applicationSept. 19, 1963, Ser. No.

11 Claims. (Cl. 214- 1) The present invention relates generally totransfer mechanisms used in connection with methods and apparatus forautomatically assembling parts, particularly the component parts of amount or electrode assembly of an electronic tube or the like. Thisapplication is a division of application Serial No. 171,745 filedFebraury 7, 1962, which is a division of application Serial No. 406,930,now US. Patent No. 3,069,749 of December 25, 1962.

During the several decades of technical development and commercialexploitation of vacuum tubes and the like there has been a presistentneed for improved methods of assembly and for automatic assemblingapparatus for the electrodes of such devices. Some early machines weredevised that were adapted to assemble simple types of mounts but eventhese were unsuccessful to my knowledge.

For many years, tubes have included many electrodes, and with thedevelopment of the hearing aid and the proximity fuse, the dimensions ofmany types of tubes have been greatly reduced. It will be recognizedthat as mounts are made progressively smaller, manual assembly withoutdeforming the delicate electrodes becomes progressively more difficult.In the event that a mount is assembled imperfectly, perhaps including adeformed electrode, the defective nature of the mount may not bedetected until after the mount is sealed in its envelope as finallyexhausted and completed. At this stage, it is revealed as defectiveafter it represents a far greater expenditure than is represented by themount itself. In other words, manual assembly techniques tend to deformthe electrodes in such a way that defective mounts are often detectedafter the tube constructed has advanced to an expensive stage. Themethods and apparatus provided by the present invention vastly reducethis tendency to deform electrodes; and any deformation producedoccasionally is so prominent as to be immediately detected 7 and themount can be rejected while still representing comparatively small cost.

It is accordingly an important object of the present invention toprovide new and improved methods and apparatus for automaticallyassembling electronic tube mounts and the like. A further object is .toautomatically assemble electrodes of even small and complicated mountsin rapid, precise and automatic routine.

in the illustrative embodiment of the invention detailed below, theelectrodes are assembled in proper mutual relationship. The mount asfinished in the disclosed embodiment includes a stem on which theelectrode assembly is supported, the stem consisting of a glass buttonor header through which are sealed a set These serve as terminalconnectors and mechanical supports of the electrodes later assembled onThe header usually serves as the end of a tube envelope.

Stems are ordinarily prepared in molding machines which locate the wiresin the glass header with relatively broad tolerance. A feature of thepresent invention is in the tailoring or trimming of the leads toaccurately 3,19.@,4Z Patented June 22, 1965 determine lengths; and afurther feature is in the adjustment of the lead positions to closetolerance, for consistent and reliable operation of the assemblingmachine and further to assure consistent, accurate duplication of theautomatically assembled mounts. In accomplishing this purpose, themachine handles the stems and is effective to adjust the way in whichthe stems are held so as to perfect the positioning of the wires; andthat effect is further enhanced by devices which trim certain of thewires to critical lengths spaced from the glass portion and to bendcertain of the wires, where necessary, into the optimum pattern on whichthe remainder of the operations depend.

The machine includes a conveyor which carries a number of work holdersfrom each of a series of stations to the next, step-wise. Because of thesmall dimensions of the illustrative mount being assembled and theconsequent close tolerances involved, it is important that the conveyorshould consistently advance the work holders to an accurate position ineach station. Ordinary conveyor mechanisms, such as the usual chainconveyor, tend to introduce slack and in this way tend to defeat theobjective of accurate transport of the work holders. A feature of thisinvention resides in a conveyor having unusually large links, andcorrespondingly, having relatively few links. A subsidiary featurerelates to the conveyor that is disposed about a pair of sprockets, oneof which is movable to and from the other so as to accommodate thetravel of the large links about those sprockets. The use of an oddnumber of links minimizes the motion of the movable sprocket, and theconsequent impacts on the frame and in the drive are minimized.

In the illustrative machine, the previously molded glassand-wire stemsare loaded manually onto a conveyor plate with rough preliminaryorientation. A feature of the invention resides in the techniques andmechanisms for handling the glass-and-wire stem during its transfer fromthe initial feed plate to the work holders of the main conveyor, so asto preserve and improve the initial orientation and to effect thistransfer in a simple manner well suited to specialized forms of stems.

The completed mount in this illustrative disclosure involves parallelinsulated discs, customarily of pierced mica, which fix the spacingbetween the electrodes precisely. As previously mentioned, the wires ofthe stem are adjusted in the machine, into an accurate pattern. In thisillustrative machine an important feature is in the provision of apiercing die for forming the holes in the mica while each mica is heldin the very element utilized to transfer and apply the mica to stemwires, and in the case of the top mica, to certain of the electrodes.

That portion of the machine which locates the stem in the work-holderand trims the wires to critical lengths constitutes a usefulcombination; but if the machine accomplished no more, it might well beconsidered uneconomical. Ordinarily, stems are manually inserted into atrimming die. An important feature of this invention is in not merelytrimming the stem leads, but accomplishing the further mount-assemblyoperations on the stem as trimmed and oriented in the trimmingoperation. The consistent orientation of the stems and the consistenttrimming of the leads at a uniform distance from the workholderestablishes a uniform condition of the stern utilized in assembly of theadditional parts, with consistent accuracy and success.

The first mica to be assembled has an accurate pattern of pierced holes.Certain stern wires enter certain of the pierced holes in the mica wherethe mica is assembled to the stem. Those wires are then engaged andutilized in subsequent assembling operations, to pick up and accuratelylocate the mica so that electrodes may mica to the stern wires at anintermediate position, bysupplying and to supply thrust-resistingbacking for the mica While inserting the grid, and finally by pushingthe gird and mica all the way to the short wires on the stem. A furtherfeature residesin the welding of a grid stop to one of the grid siderods so as to' pre-' vent appreciable shifting of the grid in'thecompleted tube, and to accomplish this despite extremely smalldimensions involved in the illustrative mount to which the invention isapplied. This is accomplished when the chine, long before it can reachmica is at an intermediate position (such that both sides of the micaare easily accessible) and after grid insertion. The stop is applied tothe grid side rod with the micain this position, and thereafter the micaand grid subassembly is advancedto its final position on the sternwires. The welding tools serve not only to weld, but 'to transport thegrid stop to position and to furnish thrust resistance .behindthe micaduring insertion of the grid.

A further feature 'of the invention resides in the assembly of a second'grid telescopically about the first while the first mica is in theintermediate position and with the side rods of the second gridpenetrating the prepared holes in the mica, and thereafter advancing thesubassembly of two grids and the mica to the final position on the wiresof the stem.

In the illustrative disclosure, it will be seen that the two gridsfunction with two long stern wires as electrodes of a pentode; and atwo-part anode in the form' of 'two preformed anode plates isautomatically assembled to the mount thus far completed. 1

In this machine, a second mica is applied to the projecting ends of theelectrodes opposite the first mica; and a further part is assembled tothe mount to lockthe mica in place and to interconnect the parts of atwo-part 'anode. One of those electrodes that penetrates the top mica isseized and oriented for indirectly orienting the top mica in thisassembling operation, a feature that is found in another form in thegrid-mounting stations.

A desirable minimum number of welding operations is effected forpermanently retaining the assemblyof the electrodes and other parts inthe initial accurate configuration produced by the uniformly repeatedoperations of the machine. 7

Includedin several stations are various important forms or tools which,like the' gathering tools in the cutting station, embrace the parts ofthe partial mount while a further component is advanced into place. Anespecially stations involves jaws which close on each other and, whenclosed, present a'pattern of apertures with flared "openings facing thestein holder. Theyadvance on and receive the stem wires, andhavingestablished orientation desired for an assembly operation,-arelaterally separated and withdrawn Certain split'tools have flaredopenings facing toward. the stemand flared openings facing away from thestem. These ad vance onthe stem to receive and orient a pattern of wireswhile also acting to direct a further part, such as ,a grid, or ananodepart, in a precise path toward the partial mount. These and furtherdetailedyet important features. of the invention will bebetterappreciated from the specific descriptionthe envelope sealing andevacuating stage of manufacture of'electron tubes. This is a valuableaspect of the invention. The mount as it emerges at the assembling stageof tube manufacture can be rejected at low. cost if it-should be founddefective. Injcontrast, manually assembled mounts with no prominentvisual defect are assembled into completed,

' sealed andexhausted tubes, and at this completed stage there, is a.very substantial rate of rejection. The rate of rejection of completedtubes containing mounts prepared under the present invention is sharplyreduced.

Further features of novelty will be appreciated from the illustrativedisclosure that follows. It will naturally be understood that certainaspects and features of the described embodiment may be omitted .as'required and that certainfeatures are useful in other. combinations.However, the entire organization is admirably adapted to achieve thebroad purpose of assembling anduniting the electrodes of a mount,particularly in assembling numerous electrodes of a'subminiature mount.In'the detailed disclosure, reference is 'made to the accompanyingdrawings forming part of the present disclosure. In the drawings: I a

FIGS. 1A and 1B are a'plan view of'an illustrative mount machineembodyingfeatures of the present invention, including the work conveyorand portions of the coordinating drive and cam mechanisms of' thevarious work stations, showing in greatly enlarged perspective theprogress of a typical. mount during passage through the several workstations of the machine but omitting those stations; FIG. 2 is anelevation incross-section along the line 22 of FIG. 1 but at.largerscale, showing the jawopening mechanisms for the stern blocks or workholders and the drive mechanism of the several stations of the machines;

FIG.'2A is a portion of FIG. 1A at larger scale showing details of thelink conveyor for the stem block and the guide mechanisms formaintaining the stem block along a predetermined path during travelthrough successive stations; 1V

FIG. 3 is anv enlarged fragmentary elevation, with parts broken away andsectioned, showing the details of thework holder or stem block; FIG. 4is a sectional view t'akensubstantially along the line 44 of FIG. 3 andlooking in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 5 ;is a perspective view, with parts broken away,

'of the stem block illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4;

FIG. 6 is an elevation, certain: parts sectioned and broken away,showing portionsof the mechanism of FIG. 1A together with thestem-loading mechanism at Station Aof FIG. 1A; g

FIG. 7 is an enlarged fragmentary elevation, viewed generally from theline 7-7 of FIG. 6- and looking in the direction of the arrows, showingthe turret indexing mechanism; I

FIG. 8 is an elevation, with some parts broken away and shown insection, taken substantially along the line mther ein'ready fortransf Y,V I

mount is deformed by the apparatus. ;Such deformed mount is prominentlydefective and is readily detected upon inspection and rejected as itemerges from the ma= FIG; 10is' a four. stage progressive. illustrationof the transfer member of FIG. 6 in successive positions of "movementfrom receiving. a stemat the feed turret to delivering the stemthrough-thesplit guide to the stern block;

FIG. 10A is an enlarged fragmentary plan view showing a stem on the feedturret together with part of the transfer member, as viewed just priorto the first diagrammatic showing of FIG.

FIG. 11 is a timing chart of the conveyor and stem block operatingmechanism shown in the preceding figures, wherein the time-motion curveis generally identified by the same numerals as are used for the camsproducing such timed motions;

FIG. 12 is a timing chart of the mechanism in the stem loading station.

In FIGS. 1A and 113 there is shown the plan View of a conveyor 12 andassociated operating mechanisms for assembling a number of electrodes toa stem made up of wires sealed in a glass header h. The assembly of theelectrodes and the stem is termed a mount in the art. Such an assemblymay be of various sizes, and the principles here involved will berecognized as applicable to a wide range of designs of mounts and thelike. However, the present machine is particularly adapted, by thesolution of numerous special problems, to the assembly of mounts ofextremely small proportions. The tube used in this illustrativeembodiment is a pentode having a two-part anode, a wire or rodsuppressor, a screen grid, and a control grid, all of which extendparallel to the length of the tube and are fixed in relative spacingeach from the others by an insulating Water at each end of the electrodeassemblies, usually of mica. The particular tube is intended to receivea filamentary cathode that is manually added to the mount after themount is delivered by this assembling machine. The diameter of the tubebeing fabricated is the so-called 5-3 size, that is, approximatelyoutside diameter of the glass enclosing envelope.

The tube is assembled by commencing with a stem or header that is loadedinto a conveyor and is transported step-wise past a series of operatingstations A to L inelusive where the header wires are either shaped bycutting and swaging or where one or more of the electrodes and the micasare assembled or welded to produce the completed mount. The extremelysmt ll dimensions of the mount being assembled represent a controllingconsideration throughout the machine. Thus, the machine itself formscertain of the mount parts in accurate configuration so that the partwill be in perfect orientation for assembling and so that, when thesub-assembly leaving one station reacehs a succeeding station, thevarious parts of the sub-assembly will be in accurate position andrelative arrangement for the operation at the succeeding station.

In FlG. 1A three stations, A, B, and C are seen where a stem block it)on the linked conveyor 12 comes to rest successively. At the firststation A, glass header 11 having sealed wires l to 9 inclusive, ismechanically loaded on the conveyor in proper position for the furtheroperations in the succeeding stations l3 and C. Wires 1, 2-, 3, 4 $3, 9,extend from the wafer header h in particular positions appropriate forsucceeding operations which are effected at further stations during thetravel of the conveyor between the stem-loading and unloading positionsA and L.

By loading the stem into the machine with the wires 1 to 9 inclusive ofequal length and longer than the lo gest wire needed, it becomespossible to trim the wires to lengths required during further assemblyoperations, all accurately in relation to a common reference, namely,the wafer header h. In the final part of the conveyors traverse, thereis seen a mount completed by this machine. This includes a bottom micabin spaced accurately from the header h. The location of the bottom micabm is established partly by the wires 2, 8 and 9 cut short and havingtheir ends defining a plane against which the bottom mica is pressed.Additionally, leads l and 4 (which extend through the bottom mica bm forconnection to the two anode plates) have swaged abutments at the planeof cut leads 2, 8 and h for supporting the bottom mica bm By loading anuncut and unswaged stem into the stem loading station A, it becomespossible to cut certain leads to critical lengths at a further station,and at a still further station to swage accurately located shoulders oncertain leads, thereby defining the bottom mica plane. This may beaccomplished with the assurance that, although the trimming and swagingare effected at dilferent stations, the operations are consistentlyrelated to each other by the accurate orientation of the stem at each ofthe stations, both as to the end-wise positioning of the wire and as tothe wire pattern presented at each station to the operating tools.

Wires 6 and 7 ultimately serve as suppressor electrodes, and are alsoutilized to support and connect the filamentary cathode. At the cuttingor trimming station B, leads 5 and '7 remain uncut and are of the samefull length as when received in the stem loading station A; but twoother sets of leads are trimmed to different lengths, specifically leads2, 8, and 9, are trimmed to very short lengths equal to the spacingbetween the glass header h and the bottom mica but, and leads 1, 3, 4and 5 disposed in an approximately square pattern, are trimmed to amedium length such as to penetrate the bottom mica but and extend partway toward the top mica tm.

In station C, two of the medium length leads namely 1 and 4, are swagedto provide a shoulder or abutment at the same separation from the headerh as the ends of wires 2, 3, and 9. The position of the swaged shouldersS and the cut ends of the wires 2, 3, 9 are all of a high order ofaccuracy because of the accurate grip of header h in a stem holder andthe holder is located precisely at each station in the machine. It is animportant feature that the header h is seated in its holder and ismaintained in a very definite fixed plane in its traverse through themachine from station to station, and further that each of the wires, 1to 9 inclusive, remains in a very accurately established positionendwise and transversely. It will be seen that in some of the stationsthe accuracy of the positioning of these wires and their pattern isreestablished and carefully readjusted.

It will be understood that the header h as formed in a stern moldingmachine carries the wires 1 to 9 in a pattern whose accuracy andconsistency is limited, considering the requirement of stem molding diesthat the wires should be loosely received; and because automaticassembling of a mount must not be impeded by variations in the patternor distribution of the wires, stations A, B and C of the presentmachines are adapted to receive wire patterns of coarse tolerance andadjust the pattern of wires to close tolerance, before other parts areassembled.

In station D, the bottom mica bm is applied to wires 6 and 7 and pushedpart way down the lengths of these wires but not to the final positionwhere it is pierced by medium length wires 1, 3, 4 and 5 and restsagainst the ends of short wires 2, 8 and 9, and the swaged shoulders Sor" the wires 1 and 4.

At the bottom mica-applying station D (see FIG. 113) an importantprinciple of the machine is utilized further and again illustrated. Theaccurately oriented wires whose positions are fixed in the Stem-loadingstation A and adjusted in both the cutting and swaging stations B and Care to receive a bottom mica having a pattern of holes. The machineitself forms the holes immediately prior to application of the bottommica to the Wires. Thus the holes which are to be penetrated by theuncut reference wires 6 and 7 are in the proper positions and relativespacing to assure that the bottom mica bm can be mechanically thrustagainst the wire ends, in alignment with the corresponding holes. Theremainder of the holes are accurately distributed to receive the mediumlength wires 1, 3, 4 and 5 that were correspondingly accurately adjustedin the previous stations B and C. These wires penetrate mica bm at alater station when mica bm is pressed against stops provided by the endsof short leads 2, 8, and 9.

At this station 'D a further mechanism is included'for shifting the.short wires to definite positions, when necessary, so that such wireswill assuredly not obstruct the side rods of grids that are laterinserted.

' In the next station E (which the bottom mica bm supported in itsintermediate position alongthe uncut refererice wires 6 and 7) a grid g1is inserted into two of the holes of the bottom mica which are properlylocated for receiving the grid side rods. This is effected by accurateorientation of the wires 6 and 7, which act in turn to carry the piercedbottom mica into accurate position for receiving those side rods. Sincethe bottom mica bm is electrode; siderods may be deflected. from thereliable pattern defined by the wires closely adjacent the header and/or by the bottom and top micas bin and tm. In stations B, C, and D, thelong and slender wires extend to unreliable positio'nsat their free,ends. The apparatus engages the wires close to the header where the,wire pattern may be relied on, and a combing pattern of tool aperturesis formed and then moved perpendicularly away from the header h to theposition where-the cutting die,

perforated in the machine, specifically at the station D, no

precaution is required to prevent inversion of the hole pattern such asmight occur if the bottom mica were formed separately and subsequentlyloaded into this assembling machine. Thereafter, at station E, a metalsleeve, or grid stop gs is formed in the machine and applied to theendof a side rod of grid g1 that projects through the bottom mica, tohold the grid g1 firmly against the bottom mica bm. This grid stop iswelded to one of the side rods of the'grid g1 at the underside of thebottom mica bin. The sleeve gs is extremely tiny,

when it is borne in mind that the bottom mica bmis of v the order of A"in diameter. The grid stop is not handled as a separate part .but iscut, formed, applied, and welded, entirely within station E. The spacingprovided between header h and the bottom mica bm in its preliminaryposition facilitates the assembling and welding operations. Later, whenthe bottom 'mica bm is advanced to itsfinal position, there is littleclearance for application of welding tools.

The other side rod of grid g1, extending through the bottom mica bm,ultimately is disposed close to, short wire 9 which terminates at thelower face of the bottom mica bm; and in a welding step expedientlyeffected manually, that side rod is joined to wire 9 which constitutesthe lead conductor for the #1 grid in the finished, sealed tube. a

At the next station F, a second gridg2 is mounted coaxially of andaround g1 and the side rods of the grid g2 are forced through theaccurately located holes in bottom mica bm; and then the subas sembly ofgridsgl and g2 and bottom mica are advanced to their final position withthe bottom mica in the assembly plane defined by short wires 2, '8 and9, and abutting against the swaged portions S of medium length leads 1and 4.

'In the grid-applying stations E and F the bottom mica bm is in itsintermediate position during the insertion of each of the grids g1 andg2. After the gridsvhave been inserted, the bottom mica bm is finallyseated. In the next following stations G and H two portions of a twopartanode may be successively thrust into position on opposite sides of the.grids g1, g2 and against the accurately.

located bottom mica. The two part anode includes a front part a on leads3 and 4, and a second part a on leads 1 and 5.

In station I a top mica tm is pierced and applied to the long wires 6and 7 as was the bottom mica bm in station D. In the following stationsI and K, wire straps or hairpins are formed and inserted forinterconnecting the two parts a of the anode, and to hold the top micatm in place against the topedges of the anode parts. Finally, in thestation L of the machine, the excessively long, previously uncutreference wires 6 and 7 are trimmed to a desired length, and theassembled'mount is unloaded from the machine.

A further principle will be seen, applied repeatedly in various stationsof the machine. In loading the stem into the stem blocks at the stationA, the relatively fixed pattern of wires at the locations where' theyemerge from header h is used as a reference. In stations B and C wherethe wires are cut and swaged, and in the other stations where the uncutor longTwires and electrode siderods are'held, the possibility existsthat any of those long wires or'the the swaging die, or themica-applying head is to engage the previously unsupported andunreliably positioned wire ends. These cutting, swaging and assemblingtools then advance along the wires toward the header in' a reversestroke, to reach their final working positions.

The novel step-wise conveyor shown in FIGS. 1A and 13 should be properlyappreciated, since it is very irnportant-to the operation of themechanism at the several work stations from the stem loading station Ato the final trimming and unloading station L. In one respect it mightbe ideal if the several stem blocks 10 which hold the indi vidual stemsat spacesj equal to the spaces between the various work stations werepart of one rigid disc or turret. In that event, their relative spacingsmight conceivably be rigidly andinvariably fixed. The location of thework mechanisms would thenrequire most remarkable precision, and thermaldimension changes would require special accommodation. In contrast, stemblocks 10 are carried by a link conveyor in the machine described, in asemifioating condition so that they can be accurately located in eachstation by mechanism at that station, and to use a linked conveyor,sprocket-supported at its opposite extremities, This concept is. appliedin. my copending application Ser. No. 790,570 filed Dec. 9, 1947, nowabandoned.

It is of special advantage that a minimum number of strong large linksshould be used. This minimizes stretching of the links and minimizes thetotal effects on-the conveyor of the looseness and wear at individualpivots,

contrasting in this respect from conventional chain conveyors.

Where large links are used, that are wrapped around a pair of spaceddrive and guide sprockets, provision should be made for the sprocketshafts to move toward and away from each other as each large linkapproaches a sprocket, swings around the sprocket, andthen leaves. Thismotion should be minimized to avoid excessive stresses on the conveyorwith resulting unreliable positioning of the work holders in the workstations. This sprocket motion is minimized 'by using anodd number oflarge links, to insure the presence of one link at only one sprocket,that extends across the line of the two sprocket shafts, while at theopposite sprocket a pair of links form a V-configuration. This conditionof a fiat link at one end and V links at the other changes as theconveyor advances. with this V first at one sprocket and then at theother. The arrangementpromot-es smooth conveyor operation, Because ofthe large size of the individual links, one of the sprockets is mountedwith a yielding bearing permitting sliding movement toward and away fromthe opposite fixed-shaft sprocket. 1 If a fiat link wereto pass around asprocket at one end and a corresponding fiat link were to pass around asprocket at the opposite end,

followed by the V-joint between the two links being disposed at one endof the conveyor and a corresponding V-joint at the opposite sprocket,then the yieldably supported sprocket'would bounce excessively,perhapsto a damaging degree. Also, vibrations would be-produced whichareundesirableespecially in a delicate assembly and 361' are urged apart bycoil springs 36k.

from the end sprocket 14, and is spring biased away from sprocket 14,for tensioning the conveyor 12. The conveyor 12 advances stepwise aroundbed 11. A main drive shaft 18 driven from a motor (not shown) isprovided which furnishes power to a suitable intermittent rotary drivetransmission 13 (see FIG. 1) effective for indexing sprocket 14 180 at atime followed by idle intervals. A specially desirable form of suchintermittent drive transmission 13 for the machine is disclosed in mycopending application Ser. No. 294,982 filed June 21, 1952, now PatentNo. 2,740,301. Since sprocket 14 has six radial sprocket teeth spacedone conveyor link apart, the conveyor advances three links, identifiedwith one stem block, for each advance of sprocket 14. Main drive shaft.18 is geared to continuously rotate horizontal cam shaft 2%)continuously and thereby operate a series of control cams to bedescribed, and main drive shaft 13 is also coupled via gearing 22 torotate a series of vertical drive shafts for furnishing continuoussynchronised rotary power for shafts 23 at the various work stationsspaced along the conveyor.

Sprocket 14 has a pair of pins 24 which are engaged by a locking detent26 (see FIG. 1A) for arresting and locat ing the conveyor in theintervals when the various stern blocks are disposed opposite theseveral work stations. During sprocket indexing motions, detent 2a iswithdrawn by a linkage 28 of any convenient design operated by a cam31'? on continuously rotating cam shaft 26.

The drive mechanism in FIGS. 1A and 13 includes a further pair of cams32 on cam shaft 2i) (see FIG. 2) for rocking levers 34. which, throughsegmental gears 34a and pinions 3%, cause rock shafts 36 to oscillate.These rock shafts extend along all the work stations. Their purpose isto operate the clamping mechanisms, to be described, for arresting andaccurately locating the stem 'blocks 12 in the several work stations.Additionally, continuously rotating cam shaft 2i furnishes power formechanically opening the various stem blocks 12 at certain times in thesequence of operations. For this purpose, cam shaft 20 carries a seriesof cams 38 which, through mechanism that includes cam followers 46)operate jaw opening wedges. The two cam followers 4t? seen to the leftin FIG. 1A are seen to operate through crank shafts 4% to actuate thejaw openers in the loading and unloading stations A and L.

The cams shown in FIG. 1A appear in end projection in FIG. 2, togetherwith an end projection of the locating and jaw-opening mechanism for thestern blocks at the respective stations. As seen in FIG. 2, each earnfollower 34 at each station, caused to oscillate by a constrained cam 32on the common cam shaft 24), operates a segmental gear 34a which in turnoscillates pinions 36a (see also FIGS. 1A and 1B) on rock shaft 36 inbracket 35. A separate pinion 36b is fixed to the shaft 36 at each workstation, and operates through a segmental gear 37 and link 36d tooscillate a lever 36c and a rock shaft 36' in the direction oppositerock shaft 36. Fixed to each of the common rock shafts 36 at both sidesof the machine, as shown in FIG. 2, in a series of arms 36 one for eachwork station, and also fixed to rock shafts 36' is a further series ofarms 36g. Pivotally supported on shafts 36 and 36' are additional arms36h and 361', respectively. Arms 36f and 36h at the respective stationsare urged apart by coil spring 36 while arms 36g The several sets ofarms 36f3dh, and 36g-3fii are held together by bolts 35m. Accordingly,as the respective arms 36 are oscillated counter-clockwise (at the leftof FIG. 2) by rock shaft 36, the associated arms 3611 are yieldablycarried along. Similarly, as arms 36g are oscillated clockwise (at theleft of FIG. 2) by rock shaft 36, arms 361' are yieldably carried along.Arms Ssh at the respective stations are seen to have lateral extensionsengaging vertical slides 3'622, each supporting a single pin 360, whilearms 36i are seen to have extensions engaging slides 35p each supportinga vertically reciprocating pair of pins Seq. These pins are shown alsoin FIG. 3. Each of the slides 36p carries a stop 36s engaging anadjustable screw stop 3dr fixed in the machine frame so as to limit theupward stroke of the slide 35p.

The single pin 360 and the pair of pins 35: reciprocate oppositely, as apair of jaws, for seizing the stem block 10 at times when the conveyor12 brings successive stem blocks opposite these pins and for locking thestem block in place while the conveyor remains at rest. Pins 3q raisethe stem block yieldably to a fixed limit. Pin 360 yieldably drives thestem block in the opposite direction.

As the cam followers 34 rock shafts 36 and 36 to oscillate themechanisms described, springs 3 5j and 36k transmit the oscillatorythrust to the pin 360 and the pins which seize each stem block. However,at each station, spring 36k is deliberately made substantially strongerthan spring 36 and for this reason the upward stroke of the pin set 36qis more forceful than the downward stroke of pin 360. Accordingly, thelevel at which each stern block 10 is finally positioned is determinedby the adjustment of screw 3dr. The downward stroke of pins 350 isadequate to grip the stem blocks, but not so forceful as to depress pins36g.

The foregoing mechanism will be seen to be the mechanical analogue ofthe pneumatic conveyor-block gripping mechanism disclosed in mycopending application, Serial No. 790,570 filed December 9, 1947.

H6. 2 shows the constrained cams 38 and the cam followers 49 which werepreviously described for the purpose of operating the stem block jaws1th, 1th for seizing and releasing the stems. Specifically, camfollowers 4d are seen to have arms 40a for driving opposed slides 40boutwardly. These slides carry wedges 4630 which engage the stem blockjaws and periodically separate the jaws at times and in stations wherenecessary, as will be described in detail below. The stem block jaws areopened to receive a stem in the stem-loading station A and to releasethe completed stem in the stemunloading station L. Additionally, thestem biock jaws are quickly opened and closed in each of the two workstations immediately following the stem loading station, namely the leadtrimming and swaging stations B and C. It will be understood that all ofthe cam shafts, drive shafts and slides described have bearings inframes 11 and 35, details of which need not be described.

The links of conveyor 12 carrying the stem blocks 10 are shown in detailin FIGS. 2 and 2A. Link 12a hearing a stem block 10 carries roller 12band rollers 12d disposed respectively behind and in front of rail 120.The rollers 12b and 12d cooperate with the rail 12c to guide the chainconveyor along an accurate path through the machine. A further fixedframe plate 12c overlies rearwardly projecting plates 122' on links 12afor preventing the links from tipping. Each of the stem-block supportinglinks 12a has an outwardly projecting bracket 12 for the block 19.Rollers 12d cooperate with the sprockets, while each roller 12b isreceived between the sprocket arms.

The operation of the mechanism described to this point will be readilyunderstood. Main drive shaft 26 rotates continuously to drive sprocket14 intermittently at a time. Sprocket 16 is driven by the chainconveyor, and supports and yieldably tensions the chain conveyor 12.Locking detent 26 is reciprocated in timed relationship to the indexingoperation of sprocket 14 for arresting the conveyor in accurate indexedpositions and for precluding movement of the drive sprocket 14 betweenindexing operations. Rock shafts 36 raise the respective single pins 360and rock shafts 3d lower the respective sets of pins 36: for releasingthe stem blocks 10 during indexing and operate reversely for grippingthe blocks 1%) when the chain conveyor 12 comes to rest. Adjustablestops 36r, with the effect of unequal springs 36k and 36 determine theelevation of the stem block 1 1 when it is locked in position. At anappropriate time in the operating cycle of themachine, while the steinblocks '10 are gripped by cooperating pins 360 and 36g, cam followers 40operate wedges 40c to'open the stemblock jaws, the details of which aredescribed below. The links 12a of the chain conveyor 12 which carry thestem blocks 10 are accurately guided along the path fixed by rail 12cand the cooperating rollers 12!), 12d. i I e The stem blocks lit,briefly described in connection WithFIGS. 2 and 2A, are shown in greaterdetail in FIGS. 3, 4,and 5. Each stem block it) is suspended on theoutwardly extending brackets 12 of the supporting conveyor link 12a bypins 10a extending through enlarged bores in the brackets 12f, one pinappearing at each side of the stem block Hi. I Springs itlb surroundpins 184: and bias the body dds downward as limited by pins litld.Body'lhc is formed with respective channeled and conical recesses weproviding bearing seats for the gripping pins 360 and 35g. Pin 360, inits conical seat 160, centers the block from leftto right as viewed inFIG; 3. Body lilo has a'central insert 1th constituting a seat for theglass header h, the insert 10f being formed with a passage =1lg forreceiving the: projecting wires extending from header h. In addition, apair of passages 10h on opposite sides of the insert ldf-admit jawopening wedges tt c when projected by the c am mechanismdti, 40a, anddob previously described.

The body ldc slidably supports a pair of vertically movable jaws lttiand 10 disposed in front of insert 16 for pressing header [1 against theinsert and for gripping and centering the header [1. A pair of plates10k are fixed to the body the for slidably confining the jaws itli andlilj. As seen in FIG. 5, each side of upper jaw by any suitablecontinuous to-intermittent drive means 13, illustrated in FIG. 11 tocomplete the conveyor advance inthe interval 35 tip-115. Gradualacceleration and deceleratiom together with rapid operation, is to bedesired. 'Cam 30, which operates conveyor detent 26,

advancesthe detent into the path of the next pin 24 143i has a lateralextension Him that lies behind a similar lateral extension Mn on-lowerjaw 10 V The upper and lower jaws 1th and 10 are urged toward each otherby a pair of inwardly spring biased Wedges 100 each of which has acompression coil spring 143p. Wedges 1G0 coact withsloping faces Min ofside notches in the lateral extensions Min of the lower jaw 16 and withsloping faces 143m of side notches in lateral extensions liim of theupper jaw 191'.

Inward pressure by compression springs ltip forces wedges 100' toconcurrently raise the lower jaw 10; and

depress the upper jaw llfifito firmly grip the header-h. The jaws forcethe header h firmly against seat provided by the insert itlfby virtue ofsloping header-engaging surfaces l it of the jaws. v Jaw-s 101' and 16have reversely sloping cam surfaces 101' and 10s (see FIG. 5) in theirrear surfaces engaged by wedges 4111c when it is necessary to open thesejaws.

From the foregoing, it is seen that the stem blocks 10 are relativelyloosely suspended from'brackets .12f of the conveyor 12 and accordinglythe conveyor 12 is only relied upon to transport the stem blocks It} tosuccessive positions to a first degree of accuracy. Thereafter, grippingand locating pins 36g and 360 "accurately fix the location of the stemblocks 10 after the conveyor 12 has come to rest. Between those briefintervals when wedges separate jaws 1th and l}j, spring biasedwedges 100urge jaws 1th and 10 toward each other for resiliency gripping andcentering the header h and for firmly seating the header; The headersare gripped a'tjall times, both when the conveyor 12" is advancing andwhen it is at rest, except in the four stations A, B, C and L as preafter the pin previously released has been carried part way around withthe sprocket. .Firm locking of the sprocket by cam 3d and detent 26 iseffected after conveyor drive has ceased. I, V a

Cams 32. operate the stem-block gripping pins 360 and 36g to seize andrelease the stem-block at the beginning of each cycle of operation ofthe tools on the stems in the respective stations, blocks 10 beinglocked in place as early as practicable and being released as late aspracticable. This is indicated by the timing curve 32 in FIG. 11corresponding to the drive effected by cam 32 in'FIGS. 1A and=2.

Cams 38 operatewedges 40 to release the stems in stations B, C, and L,and to open the stem holders arriving in station A. Each stationrequires its own cam 38 and its own timing curve-38 represented, in FIG.11, as will be appreciated when considering the various stations A, B, Cand L specifically.

A feature of the invention represented by the mechanism in station Ainvolves the location of a part in a preliminary orientation followed inlater stations by successive refinements in the preliminary orientation.This assures reliable performance of the assembly machine despiteinaccuracies or loose tolerances in the dimensions and in thedistribution of the parts involved.

An important consideration in assembling the electrodes on the stem 11having the series of Wires 1 to 9 inclusive molded in a predeterminedpattern involves the accommodation of stems in which the highly ilexiblewires are in a predetermined arbitrary pattern. The wires may not bedistributed in a precise predetermined pattern, due to a certain degreeof required looseness of the wires when received in passages in themolding dies where the stern was formed. Much more serious is the factof random deformation of the comparatively long and slender wiresincidental to'handling. After loading of stems, the machine correctswire deformity.

The details ofstation A are shown in FIGS. 6, 7, 8, 8A, 9, 10 and 10A,wherein there is illustrated mechanisms for initially loading a steininto the stem block 10 previously described. The loader not only insertsa stem into the stem block 1%), but additionally predetermines theorientation of the wires 1 to 9 inclusive in relation to the sternblocklt). There .is no critical physical dimension which is utilized inthe stemblock 10 to predetermine the-rotationalorientation of the stemin the stem block, but instead, the stem loader itself is relied upon toinsert the stem with particular wires-in positions required forfunctioning of succeeding workstation Thus wires 6 and 7, considered asreference wires, are to be disposed one above the. other in avertical'plane while. the wires and the axis of the stem are horizontal.These conditions are obtained while the glass header is seated againstthe insert 16 in the stem blocklt). Wire v7 is disposed above wire 6,and the remaining wires are distributed in the initial patterndetermined by the glass molding operation. In station A, the stems aremanually deposited on the blades of a-feedplate -turret,'with no morethan rough orientation required of the attendant. From. this point,themechanisr'n performs automatically withv progressively increasingprecision in stemhandling and in stem-wire tailoringj? includingstraightening, cutting, patternadjustment and swaging of the wires. j

In FIG. 6 the general organization of the stem-loading station A isshown, the mechanism for operating certain parts being shown in F IGIS.The stem loading mechanism includes a step-wise advanced carrier orturret 41, a .set of-transfer fingers 42, a pair of transferarms44 and45,21 split-funnel wire guide 46, and the necessary operating mechanismscoordinated as shown in the cam chart of FIG. 12. In FIG. 18A there isshown a holder 41a of the carrier 41 having a blade 4% extending betweenreference wires 6 and 7 arranged on one side, and wires 1, 2, and 3 onthe other side. Blade 41b is approximately the maximum thicknesspermitted by the separation of these two groups of wires and so may besaid to be tightly confined or wedged between them. Whether tight orloose, the stem rests on the edge of its blade and is prevented fromtipping radially on the turret by the length of the blade engaged by theglass of the stem and is further prevented from tipping across the bladeedge by the width of the blade engaged by the wires. Blade 41bpenetrates the extending array of Wires and serves to initiallydetermine the rotational position about the stern axis in which the stemis ultimately loaded into the stem block it).

The stems h are loaded manually or by appropriate automatic mechanismsonto the respective holders ale, conveniently at the extreme left ofturret 41 as seen in FIG. 6, and from this position the stems areindexed in the clock-wise direction, when looking down on the turret. Asthe turret 41 indexes, the stems are carried into a transfer positionbetween transfer fingers 42 and the adjacent stem block to on theconveyor 12.

Turret 41 is supported on an upright shaft d-llc journaled in a fixedbearing 41d. Supported on the lower face of turret 41 is a series of camfollowers tie which (see also FIG. 7) cooperate with a constrainedbarrel cam 4E having an integral medial rib elg filling the spacebetween two successive cam followers die. The rib 41g locks the turret41 during part of the cam rotation. r-tdditiona'lly, barrel cam 41 hastwo curved runs 45912 for producing the desired cam indexing motion.Barrel cam 2-2. rotates in a fixed bearing 4ft (see FIG. 6) and isdriven by a sprocket and chain drive including a sprocket 41 a sprocket41m, and a chain 41k trained over the sprockets. The sprocket 41m is ona secondary drive shaft driven through bevel gearing from unit driveshaft p, the latter being coupled, as described above, to the main driveshaft of the machine. A suitable single-revolutionelectromagnet-controlled clutch 23a is interposed in the main driveshaft connection of this unit to the main drive of the whole machine,for control by appropriate manual or automatic devices, and a likeclutch is included in the drive connection of each of the other unitsdriven by shaft 20. Turret 41 carries a stem 11 into range of transferfingers 42 for each revolution of the main drive 29.

The purpose of transfer fingers 42 is to shift the particular stern on ablade 4Tb on to an aligned biade i i-a of the transfer arm 44%. Transferfingers d2, seen best in PEG. 8 (as viewed looking toward a stern blockwith turret 41 removed) are swingably supported on one end of a lever42a having a central pivot 42b and a cam follower 42c on its oppositeend. The lever 52:; is biased by spring 42d against upstanding edge cam422 on the shaft 43a.

When turret 41 has carried a stem to the transfer position in front ofthe horizontally extending transfer fingers 42, and when transfer armsis, 45' are in their vertical position with the blade 44a aligned withthe bearing against the blade 41b (Fl 10A), the transfer fingers '42 areoperated by cam 422 to displace the stem from the turret carrier 41a tothe transfer arms 45'. The transfer fingers 4-2 follow the transfer arms44, 45 arcuately toward the stem block it) to provide the requisitefeature. A test or detecting finger 42 is carried on an insulating blockto move with transfer fingers 42., in the event that no stem is presenton a carrier 41a for transfer operation to a particular stem block, thenan elecric circuit is conditioned appropriately to suppress operation ofthe furtl'ier assembly mechanisms in succeeding stations which wouldotherwise operate on the stem carried by the particular stem blockduring the processing cycle. The suppression of operation of the furtherstations in respect to the empty stem block is effective in saving partswhich cannot be assembled for lack of a .em in the stern block. Delayedcontrol (S.N. 790,570) disables clutches A split-funnel wire guide 46and associated operating mechanism, shown partially in FIG. 6, are morecompietely illustrated in FIGS. 8 and 8A. The guide 46 includes twopivoted arms each having a funneled or flared portion 460 in the facei601 closest to the transfer arms 44, 45. Each arm has a smallergenerally cylindrical portion 460 reaching face 45b (FIG. 6) facing stemblock it. The guide or funnel 460 is split and formed on the separatearms of the guide which swing reversely with pivoted pinions 46d and46s. The pinion ide is engaged by a segmental gear 46 spring-biased toclose the split funnel. Normally the funnel arms are spread apart toprovide a clear passage between transfer arms dd, 45 and the stern blockit Segmental gear 46f is positively driven downward through link 46gcoupled to hell crank lever 4611. Bell crank lever 46h, pivotedintermediate its ends and rocked counter clockwise by link .61, iscoupled to a further bell crank lever 461' carrying cam follower dtikengaging edge cam 46m on the shaft 431p that is geared to shaft 41.Spring 46g conected to hell crank 46 biases the linkage betweensegmental gear 46 and the cam follower 46k in the reverse direction. Cam46m opens split guide funnel 46 at all times except during actualinsertion of the forwardly projecting wires into the hollow stem blockinsert 10 The transfer arms and 45, which receive the stems from turretcarrier ida, are effective to swing the stems from a verticalstem-receiving position to a horizontal stern-inserting position,whereupon the stern wires are thrust endwise into the hollow insert 19of the stem block iii via split funnel as. The transfer arms 44, 45, areshown greatly enlarged in FIG. 9, and their operating mechanisrnsappearin FIGS. 6 and 8. The transfer arm 44 has a pivot 43a journaled on acarriage 44b, the latter being horizontally slidable along a horizontalpair of guide rods 44c. The carriage 44b is biased by spring 5411 towardthe stem block 10, that is, in the direction of inserting a stem intothe stem block Lit). The carriage 44b is positively driven away from thestern block it) by a lever Me and cam follower 44f engaging cam 44g on.shaft 41a. Lever 44c and cam follower 44 are interconnected by a longshaft 4412 (FIG. 8) mounted for scillation in fixed bearings.

As seen in FTG. 9 the transfer arm 44 has a rearward extension which iscapable of swinging clockwise under action of torsion spring 4 3 toengage a stop 4-4! on carriage 44b. The cooperating extension 441' andthe stop 4 5k accurately arrest the transfer arm 44 in the horizontalstem-inserting position. The transfer arm 44 has a cam follower 4 inbearing against stationary cam 44m. Arm 44 is raised from the horizontalwhen car riage 4- 3 moves away from the stem block it When the transferarm 44 and the integral cam follower 4411 are carried with carriage 44bto the right and toward the stern block ll), transfer arm 44% is swungclockwise into horizontal stem-inserting position. This is shown inprogressive stages in the first three diagrams of FIG. 10. It is seenthat transfer fingers d2 push the header 41b or stem it from the turret41 and its supporting blade 41b to the transfer arms 44, $5. In thefirst part of FIG. 10, fixed cam 44m engages rearwardly extending camfole emas lower 44n to maintain transfer arm 44 in the'vertic'alstem-receiving position.

As carriage 44!) moves to the right in FIGS. 6 and 10,

into the horizontal stem-inserting position with extension 44-i againstabutment 44k. v

Transfer arm 45 is carried by pivot 45a in transfer arm 44 and biasedagainst transfer arm 44 by a torsion spring 45b, so that the two armsmay move as a unit, horizontally and arcuately as shown in the firstthree phases of FIG. 10. Transfer arm 45 has an integral rearwardlyextending cam follower 450, whose function will be clear from thefollowing. 7 Y

The purpose of transfer arm 45 becomes apparent from the third andfourth views of FIG. 10 where the stem It is seen to extendhorizontally. In the event that the transfer arm 45 were omitted, therewould be considerable danger that, despite the frictional engagement ofthe wires with blade 44a, the stem still might shift or fall from thesingle transfer a'rm 44. By the. time the extending Wires on the stem henter and pass through the split-guide funnel 46, the transfer arm 45has served its intended purpose. As carriage 44b continues its hori"zontal travel to the right in FIG. 10 earn followerdc, comes intoengagement with a fixed cam 45d. The transfer arm 45 is thereby swung toan inoperative position of clearance, seen in the last diagram of FIG.10.

With the'transfer arm 45 out of the way, the transfer arm 44 with itssupported stem approaches the split guide funnel 46. After the funnel 46has guided the leads into the stem block 10, the funnel, too, is removedand transferfarm 44 is etfective'to complete the insertion of the steminto stem block 10. Thereafter, jaws Mi, Mi of the stem block 10 areclosed by proper coordination of the jaw-opening wedges itle previouslydescribed. When the stem block jaws lldi, ltlj have seized the glassheader of the stern, carriage. 44b slides horizontally tothe left inFIGS. 6 and 10, thereby withdrawing the transfer arms '44, 45 from theprojecting stern wires. The wires extending through the insert 10) ofthe stem block 10 ultimately will constitute the external terminals ofthe completed electron tube, while the wires projecting from the frontface of the stem block 10 will be variously processed and used in theassembly of the mount, as will appear.

In review, preliminary orientation of the stems to be located intostemblock 10 is effected with the aid of blades 41b projecting radiallyfromwturret 40' during loading of the stems onto. the holders 41a. Bythe cooperative effects of transfer fingers 42, transfer arm 44 with itstransfer blade 44a, and transfer arm 45,'this orientation is maintainedas the stem is inserted into tion A is represented in FIGQIZ. There itis seen that cam' 44g operates carriage 44b carrying transfer arms I 44,45 to the left (FIG. 6) and to upright position near the start of thecycle. Thereafter transfer fingers 42 are advanced to bear against astem an d push it from plate 41 to arms 44 and 45. Split funnel 46mcloses in front of a stem block that had just been carried to station Aby the conveyor, as represented by the drop in curve 46m. Arms 44 and45' start to travel toward the stem block near the 200 degree point inthe cycle (curve 443) and cam 42c continues to swing fingers 42 witharms 44 and 45 until those arms approach the horizontal. Car- 7 riage44b advances'arms 44 and 45 further toward the stem block while jaws 46are closed, but near the end to rest, and should have a rise while cam44g has its dwell (305 to 320 in FIG. 12) so that the inserted stem isseized before arm 44 is withdrawn.

- While-one stem is being loaded into the stern block as described, arm42 is swung to the extreme left by cam,

He, and feed plate indexing cam 41] advances the feed plate 41 one stepto bring the next stem in front of fingers 42. Arms 44 and 45 thenreturn in readiness for the next machine cycle.

The glass header may vary in diameter and in thickness, but theself-centering characteristics of the stem block jaws, and the slopingsurfaces of the jaws that engage the glass are effective to accommodatewide variations in glass dimensions.

in order to more fully appreciate the mechanism illustrated herein, theoperation at the various work stations will now be described; thespecific elements of these stations are shown in detail in my Patent No.3,069,749, of which the present application is a division.

The pattern of wires as oriented in station A where the stems are loadedinto the stem block 10 is relatively critical in relation to the nextoperation at station B.

The stem loaded into the stem block 10 in the stem loading station A hasWires projecting from the stem block, all approximately equal in lengthand longer than is needed in the final mount M. A group of these leadsare to be trimmedto a short length to serve as an abutment or mechanicalstop for supporting the bottom mica.

bin, and a further group of these leads are to be trimmed to anintermediate length for penetrating and extending a limited distancethrough the bottom mica Inn.

and,'as a stillfurther function, to bend and adjust individual wiresthat might have been positioned inaccurately in the glass button by theprevious stem-molding operation. In vacuum tube practice, wires may bein a pin circle or they may have a random pattern so as to occupyarbitrary positions in the glass header. The present stem has anarbitrary pattern of leads; but when the parts are to be automaticallyassembled, those leads" should be in' the predetermined pattern to ahigh degree of accuracy. The comparatively crude distribution of leads,as they reach the present machine, where they are formed with broadtolerance and further deformed in handling, is corrected in the presentstation, and further perfected inthe next following station.

At the conclusion of the operations for accurate adjustment of the'wiresby bending where necessary, and shearing of the several wires to therequired lengths, the cuttingrnember is withdrawn. However, before thisis done,-.jaws ltli and ltljof the stem block 10 again close on theglassbutton orheader h and hold it against the seat provided by insert 10f.

' A prominent feature of the lead-trimming station B is the combingaction by which leads, extending a substantial distance away from theglass button at which the leads are relatively rigidly located, arecarefully and precisely adjusted. This permits a tool to operateprecisely on each ofthe wires even at a great distance from the stemblock where, but for the combing action, it would be futile to expectthe leads to be properly disposed. This principle will be noted inseveral of the work stations that follow. The combing action describedis seen to include a closing-in of multiple coacting jaws forming atemplate through which the leads extend. These jaws close on the wiresat a point immediately adjacent the stem block where the wires cannothave been greatly deformed in handling the stem, and thereafter thetemplate or apertured pattern is drawn perpendicularly away from thestem block 10 to accurately locate the free ends of the plural wires inproper condition for further processing. This stroking action isutilized in several stations. In station B, it is effective forthreading the wires into apertures provided in the die block forsubsequent cutting, patterning and rotational adjustment of the stem.During the forward stroke of the die block toward the stem block 10,accurate lateral adjustment of the several wires is brought about bybending of the wires, the header being released for rotation of theheader [1 in the stem block. When the die block is close to the stemblock 14 the jaws 101', 10 again grip the reoriented header.

The particular purpose of the mechanism in station C, of theillustrative mount machine, is to swage multiple leads to form shouldersS against which the bottom mica bm may rest. These shoulders orabutments S, formed on medium length leads 1 and 4, cooperate with theshort leads 2, 8 and 9 (defining the plane for the bottom mica bm) toassure further stability in the final mount. The swagedintermediate-length leads extend through the bottom mica bm and affordprojections to which the anode parts are assembled and welded, as willbe seen.

In addition to this swaging operation, the pattern of leads is in thestation C to facilitate the swaging. The pattern of leads and therotational adjustment of the stem about its axis is adjusted as afurther refinement of the progressive orientation by opening the sternblock jaws ltli, ltlj while the combing tools are quite close to thestem block 10, and While the swaging tools are effective to form theshoulders S.

The opening of the stem block jaws at the precise time that the swagingtools engage the slender leads has a further important effect. If thereis even slight misalignment between the swaging tools and the leadsprojecting from the glass button or base of the stem 11, it is verypossible that the leads being swaged might be broken or sheared off, orthe glass button might be cracked. However, since the jaws of the stemblock are released during the swaging tools affect the leads alone anddo not tend to tear the leads away from the glass button.

During the swaging operation the header engaging jaws of the stem blockIll spread so that the stem on which the work is performed is carriednot by the conveyor but by the tools in the work station. This principleis used in the preceding lead-trimming station; and in somewhat modifiedform it is applied in the stations Where the bottom mica and the gridsare applied, as will be seen.

Immediately after the swaging tools open, the stern block jaws close,and the swaging and gathering tools are retracted to clear the way forthe swaged stem to advance and for the next stem to enter the station.

The fourth station D uses part of this same principle of adjusting theposition of the Work carried by the workholder to a very high degree ofaccuracy in the work station, just as the wires are severally locatedfor cutting and swaging in the second and third stations. In the bottommica-applying station D, the stem 71 is to receive a pierced mica discbm, assembled on the stem by disposing ends of the stem wires oppositeholes in the mica, and advancing the mica with its flat side facing thestem block. For a special reason, which will subsequently becomeapparent, the mica is not to be forced very close to the glass button.The glass button remains gripped by the stem bl-ock It) in themica-assembling station D.

The wires to be threaded through pierced holes in the mica were combedand straightened in the preceding cutting and swaging stations, but theydo not project in the precise positions required by the mica-applyingtools.

- those electrodes.

The devices in the bottom mica station take the mica-receiving wires inhand and locate the wires very accurately to allow proper assembly ofthe pierced mica. This taking in hand of the critical part of theworkpiece to accurately locate the same without depending on extremeprecision as to its location in the work carrier, is a significantfeature in this station as well as in other stations of the machine.

A further very important feature of the mica-assembling station D is theconcept of piercing the mica in the very support that carries thepierced mica to the stem wires. By piercing the mica in the applyingmechanism, the assurance is inherently realized that the holes will bein the proper positions for application to the supporting wires. Itwould be a most severe undertaking to locate micas with the requiredaccuracy were the micas Pierced previously in a separate machine,considering the tiny mount here of concern. It should be recalled thatthe high degree of accuracy required by the tiny parts being handled isa controlling consideration in this embodiment. Accordingly, the conceptof piercing the part in the very holder which assembles the pierced partis most valuable; it eliminates need for any preliminary orientation ofthe work prior to loading into the assembly machine and the incidentrisk of misalignment.

Adjacent the bottom mica mechanism it is convenient to include a furtheruseful tool. It sometimes happens that the short wires are disposed inconvenient positions in stations B and C, near but not in requiredposition. They are here bent again so that the side rods of the gridsthat are later to be assembled will not butt against the ends of theshort wires. Thus, clearance-providing tools are effectively provided toposition the short length wires 2, 8 and 9 for unimpeded assembly of thegrids in the following stations. There is a possibility that shortlength wires 2, 8 and 9 defining the abutment for the bottom mica bm mayinterfere with the grid side rods to be projected through the bottommica. These wires should be close to the side rods of the grids, sincethe wires are ultimately to be welded to the side rods for terminalleads for However, they may occasionally interfere with the mechanicalassembly, a difiiculty cured by the clearance tools.

Referring to FIG. 1B, station E is shown as adding the No. 1 grid to thebottom mica bm previously assembled to the stem or incomplete mount. Notonly is the grid g1 assembled to the mica, but also a short strap orgrid stop gs is secured to a grid side rod. This stop is tight againstthe back or under face of the bottom mica, which mica is confinedbetween this grid stop on one surface and the last helical turn woundaround and secured to the grid side rods. These grid side rods projectthrough holes pierced in the bottom mica.

In order to attach the grid stop gs to the side rods, the grid stop iswelded in place to one of the side rods after both of the side rods havepenetrated appropriate holes in the bottom mica bm. By pushing the micato an intermediate position in station I), only part way along the stemwires 6 and 7, space is provided in station E for the tools thatassemble and weld the grid stop to the grid side rod. A substantialdistance is. allowed between the intermediate position of the bottommica bm and the projecting ends of wires 1, 3, 4. and 5, and a stillgreater distance is allowed between the bottom mica bm and the free endsof the shortest leads 2, 8 and 9. The swaged portions of theintermediate leads 1 and 4 and the short leads 2, 8 and 9 define a datumplane where the bottom mica bm is seated ultimately.

From the following discussion of the No. 1 grid station E, variousprinciples will be recognized as having application here which werepreviously described in connection with preceding stations. It is clearthat every effort is made to locate the stem block 10 accurately in eachwork station. However, because of various dimensional tolerances andimperfections in adjustment of 19 r the'stem block 10 in relation to thetools in the station, and further where very fine, tightly fitting partsare used, something additional isdesirable for assuring routine success.Tools in this station take-hold of certain wires projecting from thestem,similar to combing tools in work stations B, C, and D Wherecutting, swaging, and micaloading were involved and where the work to beprocessed is picked up and oriented in respect tothe'working toolsat'each station. Additionally, the orienting operation effected bysliding the tools along the stem Wires is an operation common to variousstations. This opera- 2o. 11 and 4; and the medium length leads 1, '3, 4and 5 extend through the bottom mica. This'result follows not solelyfrom the transport. of t-hebottom mica, but from the comtion might betermed combing in contrast to operation I of the V-notched tools, which,in gripping, merely gather the gripped leads. j

Devices of station E deal with individually supplying grids to a gridinserter and with preparing and precisely positioning a grid stop thatis to be appliedto a side rod ofa grid projecting through a mica. Thereremains to be explained the manner of directing the grid siderods towardthe holes provided for them in the .mica.- This is achieved by a seriesof operations, in which the mica is shifted transverselyand rotationallyin any degree required, by picking up the long #6 and #7 wires thatcarry the mica, and fixing a pattern for the grid side rods and the #6and #7 wires that matches the pattern of holes in the mica. While itfisthe mica whose location is critical, the mica is indirectly controlled,by handling the long wires penetrating the mica. The tools that achievethe double results of picking up the #6 and #7 wires (and with them, themica) and establishing a pattern for the side rods. and the long stemwires matching the mica perforations have passages with reverseflaresdirected respectively toward and away from the stem block, thatis, toward the ends of the long stem Wires and the grid 1 rods,respectively, with the tools interposed between those parts. These toolsoperate to gather the several wires, and in their travel along the stemwires, act in a broad sense as combining the gathering tools. Theremarkable efieotiveness of the whole operation will be appreciated froma realization of the extreme precision required by the small dimensionsof the parts. The wires and the side rods might buckle, and the inchdiameter ,mica I bined combing and pattern-adjusting operations effectedin .stations B and C, and the related pattern of holes pierced throughthe bottom mica in station D.

The mechanism for inserting the #2 grid is seen in- FIG. 1B at stationF. This station uses certain principles and certainmechanisms covered inmy previously filed application Serial No. 790,570, filed December 9,1947. This station utilizes duplicated or essentially duplicatedmechanisms as those used for the No. 1 grid station E. 'It is thefunction of the combing tools similar to tools' in stations B and C, toalign thevarious medium-length wires with the utmost precision. Theseleads enter the pattern of holes in the bottom mica bm. as other toolsdrive the mica toward the glass button of the stem until the bottom micabm is properly seated in the datum plane ofthe shoulders S and shortwires 2,8 and 9. t

It is necessary in the course of the operation of assembling the #2 gridto carefully adjust the position of the #1 grid and the uncut referencewires 6 and 7 previously on the stem in order that the parts may not bedeformed.

Stem wire gathering tools engage the intermediate length stem leads.These tools are effective to close in upon and accurately locate. six ofthe nine wires projecting from the mount M at the #Zgrid station F. Theother three wires, namely 2, 8 and 9 were previously shortened in thelead trimming station B. In addition, the gathering tools are formedwith a through passage for receiving the #1 grid g1 and the grid stop gssecured to one side'rode of the #1 grid g1 after the gathering toolshave been brought' forward along the uncut reference wires 6 and 7. i

In FIG.'1B opposite station F, the mount is shown complete to theextentof having the bottom mica bm and the first two gridsgl, g2; 'In thiscondition, the con- Veyer 12 advances the stem block 10 carrying such incomplete mount around sprocket 16 to stations G and H where two halves aof a two-part anode are applied in succession to respective pairs ofWires 3, 4 and 1, 5 that project throughthe bottom mica. By means of anautomatic feeder and appropriate welding mechanism, not

siderods include a pair of jaws which have a complex motion fortheir'multiple functions. These jaws close on each other, and advancetoward the stem to receive and take in hand the uncut reference wires 6and 7 projecting from the stem. In the closed. position, the jaws form atwo-part guide passage through'which the grid inserter thrusts the gridtoward the bottom mica bm. The jawsmay also serve topress the bottommica toward the welding tools. into a bottom mica of a mount M, the jawswithdraw.

The stem arrives at station F bearing the bottom mica supported near thefree. endsof wires 6 and 7, the mica in turn carrying the #1 grid'withits grid stop welded in place. At the #2 grid station, the second andlast elecg2 are driven through the bottom mica, that mica and the.

electrodes carried thereby are shifted along long wires '6 and 7int-otheirfin'al positions. Bottom mica bm then rests against the endsof short stem wires 2,8 and 9 and against the shoulders swaged 'at thesame plane on wires After a'No. 1 grid has been inserted shown, a getteris'spot-welded to the anode part a shown at the top of the mount atstation G. In this condition the anode half a is ready for assembly tothe stem by a mechanism which is substantially duplicated at station .Hfor applyingthe second anode part q to' the stem..

Mechanisms are provided for assembling one partof the two-part anode to,the amount after it emerges from the I second grid-assembly station Fand enters anode assembling station G. Theother anode assembling stationH is similar in all respects except that the, anode part is appliedininvertedcondition, and the stem-and-anodeengaging tools areappropriately inverted.

Referring now to FIG. 1B, the mount is completed to the extent of havingboth the first and second grid g1, g2, as well as both parts a of thetwo-part anode when it arrives at station I. The grids are supportedbytheir side, rod which penetrate the bottom mica bm and the anode partsare supported by the mediumlength wire pair's.1,5 and 3, 4 whichlikewise penetrate the bottom rnica'. 'At station I, the top mica tmisto be pierced and then appliedto the projecting side. rods of the gridsg1, g2 and to the long stem wires 6 and 7 which extend from the glassheader h. Manyof the same principles and virtually the same micahandling mechanisms are used in station I forpiercing the top mica rmand applying it to the wires projecting from the'stemas are used inconnection with station D for forming and applying the bottom mica bm tothe samewires. In station I, however, the top mica is also to be appliedto the grids, penetrated by the grid sid-erods. The top mica is piercedin station I; the ends of wires #6 and #7 and "of the grid side rods areadjustedinto the pattern corre- 21 sponding to the pierced holes; andfinally thetop mica is applied to those wires and rods. The anode partsa do not penetrate the top mica, but serve as the limiting referenceplane to which the top mica is pushed when it is applied.

Referring now to FIG. 1A, it is seen that the stem arrives in station Ibearing the bottom mica, the Nos. 1 and 2 grids, the two parts of theanode, and the top mica. The mount M is almost fully assembled exceptthat the uppe ends of the anode parts :1 against the top mica tm are notrigidly held in position and are not interconnected as a single bi-partanode. The lower ends of anode parts are only frictionally held inposition adjacent to the bottom mica bm by the intermediate-length wires1, 3, 4 and 5. The top mica is only held frictionally on the side rodsof the grids and on the long wires 6 and 7.

At station I, a connector is inserted through the top mica rm and intothe tubular passages at one end of each anode part or plate to providethe required mechanical and electrical interconnection. This connector cis a bridging wire or hairpin which fixes the anode parts accurately atthe positions Where the connector c penetrates the accurately piercedtop mica. This connector serves the further purpose of holding the topmica tm against the ends of the anode plates and in position to maintainthe accurate configuration of the electrodes. Additionally at station Ithe anode is welded to one or more of the medium-length stem Wires andto be inserted hairpin for uniting the assembly permanently, and forforming the desired electrical joints. At station K, a second connector0 is inserted, being a mirror-image duplicate of the bridging connectorat station I, and the like welds are made.

The mechanism which inserts the connector 0 is also designed to form theconnector, this feature being important in that it eliminates thepotentially severe problem of orienting and handling these tinyodd-shaped parts. (The connectors might otherwise be furnished asfinished parts.) The connector material is supplied to the machine as acontinuous wire whichis formed into the required part and, while thenewly-formed part is continuously gripped and is held in the desiredorientation, this part is applied to the mount in the required position.A similar concept is involved in the No. It grid station wherein eachgrid stop is formed in the machine as needed and is at all times helduntil it is assembled in place on the stem.

At this station, theconnector c is formed and forced through the hoiesin the top mica pierced in accurate positions, with the intermediate,offset connecting bight pressed against the top mica rm and with thelegs driven into re A spective sleeves of the two anode parts.Accordingly, the I ends of the anode parts nearest the top mica tm arefixed in accurate spaced positions relative to the other electrodespreviously mounted between the anode parts, fixed in proper precisepositions by projections through the top mica.

In addition to the forming and assembling of connector c in place asshown, the legs of the connector 0 are spot welded to the anode parts atpoints a, and stem wires 1 and 4 are spot welded to parts a at adjacentpoints. This series of welding operations as described is susceptible tomodification, since the anode-to-stem-wire welds may alternatively beaccomplished in the anode assembly stations; and certain weldingoperations may be deferred until after the assembled mount M has beendelivered from the machine, welded in the machine at only the few spotsthat will reliably unite the mount mechanically. It may be desirable toreduce the number of welds effected in the assembling apparatus becausewear of the welding electrodes requires more frequent shut-downs foradjustment when a large number of welds is to be made than for fewwelds.

An important aspect of this station, similarly found in the No. 1 gridstation, is the manner of orienting the top mica for receiving the legsof the anode connector c, this orientation being accomplished by toolsthat act by camming long stem wires 6 and 7 into place which carry thetop mica into the precise required location and with its holes in thecritical required positions.

When the stem block reaches station L, the mount is complete, verynearly in the form delivered by the assembling machine. It is a rigiduni-t, with the electrodes, the

iicas and the stem accurately and permanently united. Several operationsmust still be done before this mount can be enclosed in its envelope,namely the grids are to be joined to stem wires and a cathode is to beinserted and connected in place. With other forms of electrode andmounts, the concepts in the foregoing disclosure can readily be adaptedto fabricate a technically complete mount. In the present machine, thelong wires #6 and #7 are to be cut shorter, and the mount is to bewithdrawn from the stem block. The stem Wires #6 and #7 weredeliberately made longer than required in the finished stem, for theirfunctional contribution in the assembling process. In station L, amechanical pair of cutters trims those wires, and a pair of jawsappropriately formed are provided to grip and withdraw the mount fromstem block 10. As seen in FIGS. 1A, 2 and 5 one of the cam-operated stemblock mechanisms 38,413 previously described releases the mount forunloading. In the event of misoperation resulting in a mount remainingin a stem block after leaving station L, an operator can still clear thestem block during the next machine cycle and before the stern blockenters the loading station A.

The mechanism of station L is not separately illustrated and describedin detail because its nature Will be clear from the foregoingdescription to those skilled in the art.

The various features of the invention are believed amply shown anddescribed, to the extent that recapitulation might serve to confuserather than to clarify. It should be noted that the total result of theoperation of the properly adjusted apparatus is represented in theintegral mount delivered which is of such excellence that rejection of afinished tube because of an electrode assembly defect is rare. This is aprominent advantage of the mechanically assembled mount over a manuallyassembled product.

The organized apparatus may be modified in innumerable respects. Forexample, the conveyor 12, while of unique construction adapted to themachine disclosed, might be dispensed with entirely in an evasiveeffort, and in its place manual attendants might physically move stemblocks it) from each assembly unit to the next. Furthermore, inassembling like products of modified designs, portions of the assemblingapparatus and method may be omitted or adapted to meet requirements.Consequently the appended claims should be broadly construed, consistentwith the spirit and scope of the invention.

What I claim is:

1. The combination with a mount machine including at least oneconveyor-supported stem block having a passage to receive a stem havingleads molded in a header with leads extending in opposite directionsfrom said header, said stem block including a hollow insert for theextension therein of the leads extending in one direction, of a loadingstation including an intermittently indexed carrier, at least one stemholder on said carrier including a blade movable into a transferposition relative to said stem block, said holder carrying a stem havingthe leads extending in the other direction parted and oriented aboutsaid blade, means including a transfer blade alignable with the holderblade for receiving a stem from said holder and for inserting said steminto said stem block with stem leads extending into said insert, andtransfer means movable from said holder blade toward said transfer bladefor displacing the stem from said holder blade to said transfer bladewhile retaining the initial lead orientation.

2. In a multiple-station mount machine including a stem block loaded ata station with a stem having leads projecting from oppositesides of amolded header, said from one side of the header and to support said stemwith the other leads projecting from the other Side of the header forsuccessive operations at further stations, said station including amovable carrier, a stem holder on said carrier having an orientingbladeparting said other lead group and movable into a transfer positionrelative to said stem block, a transfer mechanism interposed betweensaid stem block and carrier and havinga transfer blade receiving thestem on said orienting blade in said transfer position, means operativeto move said transfer mechanism through an operational cycle from a stemreceiving position relative to said holder to a stemthe remainingtransfer fingers whichthereby serve as a detector for the wires of astem in said holder.

- 6.'In a multiple-station mount machine including a stem block loadedat a station with a stem having leads projecting in sets from oppositesides of a molded header, said stem block having a passage to receiveone set of leads and to, support said stem with the other set of leadsprojecting outwardlytherefrom for successive operations at furtherstations, said station including a movable carrier, a stem holder onsaid carrier having an orienting blade parting said other set'of leadsand movable into a transfer position relative to said stem block,transfer means interposed between said stem block and carrier'andinserting position relative to said stem block, and transfer meansoperable when said holder is in said transfer position with saidtransfer mechanism in said stem-receiving position for moving the stemfrom said orienting blade onto said transfer blade.

3. In a mount machine having a stem block formed to receive ahorizontally extending molded stern having a header and leads projectingin one direction accommodated within the stem block and leads projectingin the opposite direction from said stem block, a loading station forinserting a molded stem into said stem block, said loading stationincluding a stepwise carrier including a stem holder having ahorizontal-edged blade disposed in a vertical plane for parting saidfurther lead group and initially orienting an upright stem relative tosaid stem block, a cradled support including a transfer blade, operating mechanism moving said support from a vertical stem-receivingposition, wherein-said transfer'blade is aligned with the holderblade,.along an ,arcuate path (to a I thrust position wherein saidsupport is horizontal and with the stem aligned with said stem block,said operatmg mechanism being "further effective to move said support Ialong a linear path toward said stem block forinserting the supportedstem in oriented po'sition into saidstemt a headertin an arbitrarypattern,- a loading station comprising an intermittently indexed carrierhaving a holder movable into a transfer position relative to said stemblock, and transfer means operableto-remove said stem from said holderand:for inserting same into said stem block, said transfer meansincluding a support movable from a stem-receiving position with thesupport in 'alignment with said holder into a stem-inserting positionrelativeto said stem block, plurally electrically conductive transferfingers adjacent said holder in said transfer posttion and operable todisplace thetstem therein from said holder onto the support, andoperating means for moving said support into said stem-insertingposition.

5; In a multiple-station machine including a movable stem block adaptedto receive a stem having leads extending in opposite directions from aheader in an arbitrary tions, a carrier having a holder movable into atransfer position relative :to, said stem block, aparting member on saidholder. for initially orienting leads-of said stem,

pattern,a loading station followed by further work statransfer meansoperable to remove said stem from said holder and for inserting sameinto said stem block, said transfer means including a'support movablefrom a stemreceiving position'relative to said holder into asteminserting position relative to said stem block, and pluralelectrically, conductive transfer fingers adjacent said holder'in saidtransfer position and operable to displace the stem therein from theholder onto the transfer support, means for insulating one of saidtransfer fingers from including two parts pivotally connected togetherand disposed to engage said sets of leads at opposite sides of the sternheader, one of said parts having a transfer blade receiving said otherset ofleads of said stem from said orienting blade ,in said transferposition and with said transfer'blade engaging the header of said stem,means for biasing the other of said parts into, a supporting positionfor said one set of leads, means operative to move said transfer meansthrough an operational cycle from a stem receiving position relative tosaid holder and along a linear thrust path to a stem-inserting positionrelative toisaid stem block with said transfer blade disposed behind andpushing such header, guide means along said linear thrust path directingsaid one set of leads toward a bore in said stem block, means operablewhen said holder is in said transfer position With'said transfer meansin said stem-receiving position for moving the stem from said orientingblade onto said transfer blade,- and further means operable when theleading ends of said one lead group are received within said guide meansfor pivoting said other part from supporting engagement with the leadsextending from, one side of the headersaid supporting position and awayfrom said linear thrust path.

7, A stem handling mechanism including a horizontally reciprocablecarrier, a first'cradle pivotally carried thereby, a second cradlepivotallyjcarried by the first cradle, means biasing said cradles intoupright position,

and coordinating mechanism for concurrently shifting said carrier alonga horizontal stroke and-swinging both said cradlestogether intohorizontal position during said stroke, said coordinating mechanismadditionally including means for swinging said second cradle to aposition of clearance near the end of said stroke of said carrier. 8.The combination with amount machine including atleast,onerconveyor-supported stern block adapted to receive a stemhaving leads molded in a header with projecting sets ofleads extendingin opposite directions from said header, said stem blockincluding a borefor the extension therethrough of-one lead group, of a loading stationincluding an intermittently indexed carrier, at least one stem, holderon said carrier including a blade and being movable into a transferposition relative to said stem block, said holder carrying astem havingthe other set of leads parted and oriented by said blade and with saidheader engaged by a horizontal edge of said blade, a main support havinga transfer'blade alignable with the holder blade, for receiving a stemfrom said holder, means for moving said main support to carry .said stemalong a thrust path into a supported position in said stemvbloclgianauxiliary support movable with said .main support for:temporarilycradling said one set of leads during movement along saidthrustpath, separable guide' jaws arranged along said thrust path fordirecting said one lead group toward said insert, respective operatingmeans for said'auxiliary support and said guide jaws coordinated todisplace said auxiliary support from said thrust path when said one setof leads enters said guide, jaws and for thereafter separating saidguide jaws, permitting unimpeded advance of said main support towardsaid stem block, and means for displacing the stem from saidholder bladeto" said transfer blade.

9. In a mount machine including a conveyor-supported stem block adaptedto receive a stem having leads extending in opposite directions from aheader in arbitrary patterns, in predetermined orientation, a loadingstation comprising an intermittently indexed carrier having a holdermovable into a transfer position relative to said stem block, a firstblade on said holder for parting and initially orienting the leads ofsaid stern extending in one direc tion when supported in said holder,and means operable to remove said stem from said holder and forinserting same into said stem block, said means including a supportingstructure movable from a stem-receiving position relative to said holderinto a stem-inserting position relative to said stern block, a secondblade on said supporting structure aligned with said first blade when insaid stem-receiving position, transfer means adjacent said holder insaid transfer position and operable to displace the stem therein fromsaid first blade, and operating means for moving said supportingstructure into said steminserting position.

10. A mount machine according to claim 9, wherein said supportingstructure includes a first pivoted transfer arm carrying said secondblade, engaging leads extending in one direction from said header andproviding a rest for said header, a second pivoted transfer arm biasedagainst said first transfer arm and arranged to provide a temporarysupport for the leads or said stem extending in the other direction fromsaid header, and means operable as said supporting structure approachessaid stem inserting position for pivoting said second transfer arm awayfrom said first transfer arm to permit unimpeded insertion of theunsupported leads into said stern block.

11. In an assembling machine, an intermittent conveyor for stems havinga header and multiple projecting wires, multiple stem blocks carried bysaid conveyor, selfcentering jaws in said blocks engageable with theheader of a stern so as to support a stem With its wires projectingfreely, jaw-operating means enageable with the stem block jaws effectivein multiple conveyor stations to open the jaws variously for receiving,unloading and releasing a stem, locating means engageable with the stemwires adjacent the header of a temporarily released stein in a stemblock, locating tools cooperable with the free ends of the stem wires infurther conveyor stations, and assembling components to said stem whilesaid stern wires are held by said locating toools.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,547,146 7/25Peiler.

1,783,642 12/30 Ferguson.

2,405,018 7/46 Crowley.

2,881,646 4/59 Farr 78--1 2,980,266 4/61 Boros.

3,034,663 5/62 Crosby.

3,071,166 1/63 Gutbier 78-1 X 3,094,887 6/63 Zwald 78-1 HUGO O.SCI-IULZ, Primmy Examiner.

ROBERT H. EANES, JR., MARVIN A. CHAMPION, Examiners.

1. THE COMBINATION WITH A MOUNT MACHINE INCLUDING AT LEAST ONECONVEYOR-SUPPORTED STEM BLOCK HAVING A PASSAGE TO RECEIVE A STEM HAVINGLEADS MOLDED IN A HEADER WITH LEADS EXTENDING IN OPPOSITE DIRECTIONSFROM SAID HEADER, SAID STEM BLOCK INCLUDING A HOLLOW INSERT FOR THEEXTENSION THEREIN OF THE LEADS EXTENDING IN ONE DIRECTION, OF A LOADINGSTATION INCLUDING AN INTERMITTENTLY INDEXED CARRIER, AT LEAST ONE STEMHOLDER ON SAID CARRIER INCLUDING A BLADE MOVABLE INTO A TRANSFERPOSITION RELATIVE TO SAID STEM BLOCK, SAID HOLDER CARRYING A STEM HAVINGTHE LEADS EXTENDING IN THE OTHER DIRECTION PARTED AND ORIENTED ABOUTSAID BLADE, MEANS INCLUDING A TRANSFER BLADE ALIGNABLE WITH THE HOLDERBLADE FOR RECEIVING A STEM FOR SAID HOLDER AND FOR INSERTING SAID STEMINTO SAID STEM BLOCK WITH STEM LEADS EXTENDING INTO SAID INSERT, ANDTRANSFER MEANS MOVABLE FROM SAID HOLDER BLADE TOWARD SAID TRANSFER BLADEFOR DISPLACING THE STEM FROM SAID HOLDER BLADE TO SAID TRANSFER BLADEWHILE RETAINING THE INITIAL LEAD ORIENTATION.